THE hearts of the children of Israel were filled with gladness, as they stood upon the shore of the Red Sea, and saw the great work which the Lord had done. Now they were a saved people—delivered from the dreadful tyrant who had so oppressed them. They had passed safely through the deep waters; and the tossing billows had been made, in God’s mighty power, to be but walls of protection for them, while these same waters had rolled in fearful judgment over their enemies, engulfing them every one.
Well might their hearts be filled with praise, and well might their glad song of victory ascend unto Him who had for them “triumphed gloriously,” and who had thrown “the horse and his rider” into the sea. This One had become their “salvation;” and now they praised Him for this, and for the way that He had led them, and for the way He would still lead them. Their hearts were full of joy and confidence.
Is there any lesson for us in all this? Yes, the awful waters of death and judgment have been safely passed for us who believe in Jesus, and we now stand on the shore of life. Sin must meet its just desert at the hand of a holy. God, and we who have sinned, have earned the wages of sin, that is, death. But all the waves and billows of God’s wrath have gone over that blessed One, the Lamb of God, who hung upon the cross for our sins. Jesus has gone into death for us, the floods of dark waters having encompassed His soul. But He has triumphed over sin, and death, and the power of Satan, and has thus made a way for us through death and judgment: Our foes are vanquished, and life and salvation are ours.
What a glad song of victory should go up from our hearts! And what praise should ascend to Him who has wrought such a glorious deliverance for us!
How many of you, my dear young readers, know this deliverance—this blessed salvation? And from how many hearts is the glad song of praise issuing! It is pleasing to the Lord that we should praise Him for His goodness. He says,
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.” Ps 1:23.
Can you sing this song? “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”
ML 02/01/1903